At first glance, Oklahoma City in the state of Oklahoma may not seem like the most obvious stop on a Route 66 trip. We did not come here for city views or nature, however. We wanted to visit three very different museums. In the end, we managed to see only one of them because tornadoes were approaching the region and, instead of sightseeing, we had to take shelter at our campground. Even so, we remember Oklahoma City as one of the most interesting museum cities on our entire route.
We reached Oklahoma City during our Route 66 motorhome trip. The historic road passes through the city, making it a natural stop between Tulsa and western Oklahoma before continuing toward Texas.
It is worth clearing up the names straight away: Oklahoma City is located in the state of Oklahoma and is both its capital and largest city. The name may sound a little repetitive, but this kind of arrangement is nothing unusual in the United States. Americans also commonly use the abbreviation OKC.
Table of contents
Oklahoma City – is it worth stopping here on Route 66?
If you are looking only at the city skyline or searching for spectacular nature, Oklahoma City can easily lose out to many other places along the route. It is a sprawling, typically American city where distances are considerable and driving is the easiest way to get between attractions.
Its greatest strength, however, is its museums. In no other city on this part of our trip did we plan to visit three such different institutions: one devoted to the history of the American West, another telling the stories of the Native Nations of present-day Oklahoma, and a third commemorating one of the most tragic terrorist attacks in United States history.
Our plan looked very good on paper. Reality quickly changed it. Severe storms and tornadoes were approaching the region, new warnings kept appearing and museums began to close. Of the three places we had planned, we managed to visit only the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in full.
We reached the First Americans Museum, parked and entered the building, but did not get to see the exhibitions. The staff informed us that the facility was closing because of the approaching severe weather. We did not have enough time to reach the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
This was not an ordinary rainy day when you can simply replace a walk with a museum visit. A tornado warning must be taken seriously and safety has to come before the sightseeing plan. In the end, we returned to Oklahoma City East KOA Holiday and had to take shelter in the storm shelters at the campground.
We will write a separate article about the tornadoes, weather alerts and this entire experience. We also often talk about it during our presentations because it was one of the most stressful and, at the same time, most extraordinary moments of our entire trip across the United States.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum – the museum we visited
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum was the only one of the three planned museums that we were able to explore without rushing. It was definitely worth coming here.
This large museum is devoted to the history, culture and art of the American West. It is not only about the cowboys familiar from films. It also explores the development of ranching, migration and settlement, life on the frontier, the history of rodeo, Native peoples, transport, weapons, art and the way the image of the Wild West was later shaped by cinema and popular culture.
The museum has more than a dozen permanent galleries, including American Cowboy, American Rodeo, Museum of the Frontier West, Native American Gallery, Western Performers and Prosperity Junction. The institution describes itself as America’s premier institution of Western history, art and culture.
The history of cowboys, ranches and westward migration
A large part of the exhibition explains who cowboys really were and what their daily work looked like. You can see saddles, spurs, harnesses, clothing, ropes and objects used on ranches. Successive displays explain how the equipment changed over time and how it differed between regions.
The American Cowboy Gallery covers about 8,000 square feet and presents the history of cowboys from the days of colonial Spain through the 20th century. It makes it easy to see that cowboy culture did not suddenly appear with Hollywood westerns. It grew partly from the traditions of Spanish and Mexican vaqueros and later developed across the vast areas of today’s United States.
We also liked the maps showing migration directions and the development of trails, railways and new settlements. Wagons, travelers’ equipment and hundreds of objects connected with frontier life stand beside them. This section makes you realize how difficult the journey west was and the enormous distances covered by people looking for land, work or a new beginning.
At the same time, the history of the West is not presented solely as a romantic tale of pioneers. The Museum of the Frontier West explores the heritage of the different groups that lived in the region in the 19th century, including Native people, settlers, soldiers and hunters. The gallery contains around 450 artifacts. [source]
Rodeo and the sporting history of the American West
During our visit, we could also see an extensive section devoted to rodeo. The American Rodeo Gallery shows how contests derived from skills needed when working with animals developed into a professional sport with large arenas, audiences, prizes and its own stars.
There are spectacular saddles, outfits, posters, trophies and memorabilia belonging to competitors. The exhibition itself is colorful and more dynamic than the traditional historical galleries, providing a welcome contrast to the quieter parts of the museum. It tells the story of rodeo’s evolution from local contests held during cattle roundups to modern professional events.
In September 2026, the American Rodeo Gallery was temporarily closed for renovation, with reopening planned for the fall. We saw it during our earlier visit, but if this section is particularly important to you, check the latest information on the museum’s website before arriving.
Prosperity Junction – a town straight out of a western
One of the museum’s most distinctive areas is Prosperity Junction, a full-scale reconstruction of a cattle town from the turn of the 20th century. You do not view it from behind a single pane of glass. You enter among the wooden buildings and walk down the main street under lighting that resembles dusk.
You can look inside a school, church, doctor’s house, sheriff’s office, blacksmith’s workshop and buildings connected with the railway. There is also a station and a cattle car. The whole place looks a little like a film set or a preserved town from the days of the Wild West.
These are exactly the kinds of spaces we like most in American museums. Instead of display cases alone, you get an entire setting: wooden interiors, sounds, lighting, vehicles and objects arranged to tell a story. We saw a similar sense of scale and approach to scenery at Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield.
Art and the Wild West in popular culture
The museum also has a very large collection of art of the American West. It includes paintings and sculptures depicting landscapes, bison, horses, cowboys, Native people and everyday life on the frontier.
A separate section is devoted to western films and the people who created the cinematic image of the Wild West. It is an interesting juxtaposition because, after seeing the historical artifacts, you can immediately discover how real events, clothing and characters were later simplified or altered by cinema.
National Cowboy Museum with children
This is a history museum, but its format is much more accessible than that of institutions made up solely of descriptions and display cases. Wagons, saddles, full-scale interiors, the Prosperity Junction town and the rodeo section give children plenty to look at even if they do not read every information panel.
Outside, you will also find Liichokoshkomo’, an extensive educational area presenting the cultures of Native Nations. It includes replicas of homes, interactive stations and room for more active play. On Fridays and Saturdays, the outdoor area closes earlier than the main building, so we recommend that families arrive sufficiently early.
First Americans Museum – we arrived, but the museum closed because of a tornado
The First Americans Museum was the second place we very much wanted to see. We reached it, parked and entered the building. That was when we learned that the museum was closing because of weather warnings. A tornado was approaching and nobody was going to risk the safety of visitors and employees.
We therefore cannot describe our own impressions of the exhibition. We can, however, explain why this place ranked so highly on our list and why we would still like to return.
The museum tells the shared story of 39 distinct Native Nations currently based in Oklahoma. It presents their history, cultures, contemporary life, art and the perspectives of the communities themselves. This is especially important in a state whose history is inseparably linked to the forced removal of Native people from other parts of the country.
The main galleries take visitors through the histories of the individual Nations, but the museum does not stop in the 19th century. It also presents living cultures, contemporary artists, languages, traditions and community life today. Families can visit the FAMily Discovery Center, with activities and climbing structures. It is included in the admission price but requires a signed waiver and a reserved session.
Based on the program alone, we still consider this one of the most important places in Oklahoma City. We are not presenting it as somewhere we explored and tested personally, but it is definitely worth including in your plans. We would try again at the next opportunity.
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum – a place dedicated to the 1995 bombing
The third place we planned to visit was the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. We did not even manage to reach it. The weather completely took control of our day’s itinerary and our priority was getting safely back to the campground.
We regret this very much because it is one of the most important memorial sites in the United States. If we find ourselves in the area again, this museum will be one of the first places we visit.
What happened in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995?
At 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995, a bomb placed in a rented truck exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The attack was carried out by Timothy McVeigh with the assistance of Terry Nichols. It was an act of far-right, anti-government domestic terrorism.
The explosion killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured hundreds. It destroyed a large part of the nine-story building and damaged hundreds of structures in the surrounding area. For many years, it remained the deadliest terrorist attack carried out on United States soil. [source]
The museum does not focus solely on the explosion itself. It also tells the stories of the victims, survivors, rescuers, investigation and the response of the city’s residents. The exhibition uses recordings, objects recovered from the ruins, eyewitness accounts, interactive screens and archival material. An average visit takes about 1.5 hours.
A symbolic memorial on the site of the destroyed building
Beside the museum is the free Outdoor Symbolic Memorial. Its most distinctive feature is the Field of Empty Chairs. Each of the 168 illuminated chairs represents one person who died in the attack. Nineteen smaller chairs commemorate the children.
Two monumental gates are marked 9:01 and 9:03. The first symbolizes the last minute before the explosion, while the second represents the moment when the effort to rescue people and rebuild the city began. A shallow reflecting pool lies between them.
The Survivor Tree, an American elm, also grows on the memorial grounds. It survived the explosion and became a symbol of the city’s resilience and renewal. Sections of the building’s walls and the fence where residents began leaving mementos, photographs and messages after the attack have also been preserved.
Even if you do not have time for the full museum, it is worth considering a quiet walk through the outdoor section. It is open 24 hours a day and does not require a ticket.
Five other museums in Oklahoma City worth checking out
The three places described above were our priorities, but Oklahoma City’s museum offer is much broader. If you have more time or are looking for an attraction suited to your children’s interests, also consider:
Science Museum Oklahoma – an enormous family science museum with more than 500 interactive exhibits, demonstrations, a space section and a planetarium. Interestingly, one exhibition is devoted to Oklahoma’s extreme weather and includes a tornado simulator.
SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology – an unusual museum devoted to bones and skeletal anatomy. You can compare the skeletons of animals of very different sizes and see how their anatomy relates to the way they move and live.
Oklahoma City Museum of Art – an art museum known, among other things, for its extensive collection of glass works by Dale Chihuly and a multi-story installation in the atrium.
American Banjo Museum – a small, very American museum presenting the history of the banjo, its significance in music and richly decorated instruments from different periods.
Oklahoma National Guard Museum – a military history museum that replaced the former 45th Infantry Division Museum. It opened its new home in June 2026 and presents more than a century of Oklahoma National Guard history.
Science Museum Oklahoma looks particularly promising for a family day. The museum covers around 390,000 square feet and combines science with a large number of hands-on activities that visitors can touch and try for themselves.
Of course, we did not visit these five places during our trip, so treat this list as a set of additional suggestions to investigate rather than our personal reviews.
Oklahoma City by motorhome – staying at Oklahoma City East KOA Holiday
During our stay, we slept in our motorhome at Oklahoma City East KOA Holiday. The campground is located in Choctaw, on the eastern outskirts of the metropolitan area, near exit 166 from Interstate 40. According to the campground, it takes around 15 minutes to drive to downtown Oklahoma City.
It is a convenient location for Route 66 travelers and a good base for visiting the museums described above. The campground accommodates large RVs and has pull-through sites, hookups, Wi-Fi, a seasonal swimming pool, playground, dog park and a walking trail of approximately one mile.
For us, however, the most important feature turned out to be infrastructure that you do not normally think about when booking a place to stay. When tornado warnings were issued, we had to take shelter in the campground’s storm shelters. The experience completely changed our stay in Oklahoma City and showed that weather forecasts and alerts in this region are not merely an addition to your travel plans.
This does not mean that you should avoid Oklahoma. You do, however, need to know where the nearest safe shelter is, enable alerts on your phone and respond to instructions from the staff. We will describe this in detail in a separate article about tornadoes during a motorhome trip across the United States.
Hotels in Oklahoma City – where should you stay?
We slept in our motorhome at Oklahoma City East KOA Holiday, so we did not stay at any of the hotels listed below. If you are traveling by car or plane, however, the most convenient areas to look for accommodation are downtown, Bricktown and West Village. From these parts of the city, it is easy to reach the museums described above, while restaurants and other attractions are within walking distance after a day of sightseeing.
Below are several properties available through Booking.com. Before booking, check the current price, parking cost, cancellation rules and whether the selected room can accommodate your entire family:
Homewood Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City-Bricktown Address: 328 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Why consider it: spacious suites with full kitchens, breakfast included and an indoor pool. It is a practical option for families and anyone planning a longer stay in the heart of Bricktown. Link: check current prices on Booking.com
Staybridge Suites – Oklahoma City – Downtown by IHG Address: 120 S Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Why consider it: family rooms and kitchenettes, as well as a seasonal pool and breakfast. A good choice if you value greater independence and a location close to Bricktown. Link: check current prices on Booking.com
Colcord Hotel Oklahoma City, Curio Collection by Hilton Address: 15 N Robinson Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Why consider it: a historic downtown hotel opposite Myriad Botanical Gardens and within walking distance of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. This is a more elegant choice for travelers who value a central location. Link: check current prices on Booking.com
Fordson Hotel, in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt Address: 900 W Main St, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 Why consider it: a boutique hotel in the historic, century-old former Ford assembly plant. Its loft character, spacious rooms and West Village location make it one of the more interesting options for travelers who enjoy unusual interiors. Link: check current prices on Booking.com
When choosing accommodation, pay particular attention not only to parking and the distance from attractions, but also to the procedures followed during tornado warnings. In this region, it is worth asking the staff immediately where the nearest safe place is and how the hotel alerts guests to danger.
If you plan to visit both the First Americans Museum and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, ask at the ticket counter about a combined ticket for USD 35. It is sold only on site and provides admission to both museums, which are about a 15-minute drive apart.
We checked prices, opening hours and the remaining practical information in September 2026. Be sure to check them again before your visit, especially if severe storms are forecast in the region. As we discovered ourselves, a tornado warning can cause a museum to close early and completely change the day’s plans.
How much time should you allow for Oklahoma City?
If you only want to see the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and then continue along Route 66, Oklahoma City can be a half-day stop. In our opinion, however, it is worth planning at least one full day and even two days if you want to visit all three main museums.
The National Cowboy Museum and First Americans Museum can be combined in one day, especially as they are about a 15-minute drive apart and offer a combined ticket. You do need to arrive in the morning and keep an eye on closing times. We would reserve a separate block of time for the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, so that you do not have to rush through it and can also walk quietly around the outdoor section.
If you are traveling with children and want to add Science Museum Oklahoma, it is best to plan another day. It does not look like somewhere you can rush through in an hour.
Is Oklahoma City worth visiting? Our opinion
In our opinion, Oklahoma City is worth visiting primarily for its museums. The city itself was not one of the main goals of our Route 66 trip, but the concentration of excellent and very different institutions genuinely surprised us.
We can recommend the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum based on our own visit. It is a large, spectacular and typically American museum combining historic objects, art, full-scale scenery, wagons, maps, rodeo and a wooden town straight out of a western.
The First Americans Museum and Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum remain on our list. We were unable to explore them, so we will not pretend otherwise. Their subjects, scale and importance mean that we would certainly try again on our next trip through Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City also turned out to be the place where our trip stopped being ordinary Route 66 sightseeing. Tornadoes forced us to change our plans and enter the storm shelters at the campground. We will tell this story in detail because it definitely deserves a separate article.
If you enjoy large, spectacular American museums, also read our article about Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. It covers a completely different subject, but offers a similar sense of scale and approach to exhibition design.
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